<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - It may have been the quietest block party in history. </p><p>People stood frozen, hands clasped over their mouths, for 22 minutes and 54 seconds as they watched Sarasota's Nik Wallenda wirewalk across the Grand Canyon.</p><p>Just as a woman let out a nervous squeal, a clown played a miniature banjo about 10 feet away.</p><p>About 3,000 people gathered at the corner of North Lemon Avenue and Main Street to watch Sarasota's Nik Wallenda wirewalk across the Grand Canyon and into history Sunday night.</p><p>Mattison's City Grille and Circus Sarasota teamed up to throw a viewing party complete with roadblocks, a jumbo outdoor screen, hot dogs and clowns.</p><p>Lots of clowns.</p><p>They walked through the crowd gathered to watch Wallenda, making corny jokes and singing songs while young circus performers contorted themselves into unnatural formations.</p><p>Lee-En Chung, an engineer, squealed when Wallenda stepped onto the wire.</p><p>She waved an orange poster with “SRQ LOVES NIK," signed “never give up” by Wallenda. A cowbell added exclamation points to all of her cheers.</p><p>“I get so nervous watching him,” she said. “My palms get all sweaty.”</p><p>As he neared the finish and then ran the last few steps to the platform, the crowd erupted into a three-minute cheer.</p><p>Ari Shedlock jumped up and raised her arms.</p><p>The 11-year-old, decked out in a bright teal leotard, performs aerial stunts with the Sailor Circus.</p><p>Though she loves performing, she is skeptical about walking across the Grand Canyon without a safety tether.</p><p>“I don't know,” she said, “but it looks like it would be really fun.”</p>